Courtroom Art

From ancient English lithographs and the sketches of the noted French artist Daumier to the present day watercolor and felt pen illustrations “courtroom art” has adorned the pages of many newspapers and magazines and has often been the sole source of courtroom images for television news. Often the artist’s work is the only visual record of what occurred. The drawings and caricatures have a cartoon like ability to mock and lambaste the pompous and arrogant, to skewer an imperfect system, and an uncanny sense of drama and pathos. The artist is not hindered by objectivity. The images are very subjective and impressionistic sketches that convey more of the moment, the emotion, and the drama than that which could be caught by a camera. All the irrelevancies are removed. Where a photograph may depict a man, a sketch will depict his character. Where a photograph may depict a scene, a sketch will depict the tension hanging in the room.

Courtroom artwork from the Scott Peterson trial.
Click on image to view slide show

Norman Quebedeau captures the moment as the verdict is read in Scott Peterson murder trial. Laci’s brother Brent holds his mother tightly as cries and sobs rise from Laci’s family during the reading of the verdicts. According to the artist the large baliff did not appear until the last day of trial and purposefully stood between Mr. Peterson and his wife’s relatives. (Copyright © 2004 Norman Quebedeau)

In this courtroom rendering by artist Christine Cornell, former Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff (center foreground) pleads guilty to a $50 billion Ponzi scheme in a Manhattan federal court on March 12, 2009 in New York City. Cornell has depicted most every notorious trial in the tri-state area for the last 30 years. (Copyright © 2009 Christine Cornell)

Gary Myrick depicts a scene feared by all trial lawyers, a bored jury. This one is from one of T. Cullen Davis’ murder trials in Houston, Texas. Davis, an oil heir, allegedly murdered his estranged wife’s boyfriend. Myrick’s images have appeared in many news magazines and on television. (Copyright © 1978 Gary Myrick)

In June of 1993, Heidi Fleiss, age 27, was arrested at her Benedict Canyon home, accused of running a high-priced call girl service catering to L.A.'s rich and famous.  Here Mary Chaney sketches the “Hollywood Madam’s” reaction to the jury’s decision. (Copyright © 1994 Mary Chaney)

Sandra Merriman, one of the 165 witnesses for the defense who testified in the murder–for–hire trial of Texas millionaire T. Cullen Davis. Sketched by Gary Myrick at the trial in Houston, Texas. (Copyright © 1978 Gary Myrick)

Felicity Don has captured, in creepy detail, the essence of Robert William Pickton, a pig farmer who was arrested in 2002 and subsequently was convicted of six counts of murder in the deaths of women who disappeared from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Regarded as Canada’s worst serial killer he still faces murder charges in connection with the deaths of 20 other women. (Copyright © 2002 Felicity Don).

John Wayne Gacy, noted serial killer who was later executed for the rape and murder of 33 boys and young men is depicted at counsel table. Known as the “Killer Clown” his famous last words before his execution were “kiss my ass.” Sketch by Andy Austin as reprinted in her book Rule 53: Capturing Hippies, Spies, Politicians, and Murderers in and American Courtroom (Lake Claremont Press). (Copyright © 1981 Andy Austin)

Janet Hamlin sketches the arraignment of various detainees, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Janet covered the Guantanamo Bay tribunals as the sole courtroom artist for the Associated Press in 2006 and 2007. (Copyright © 2008 Janet Hamlin.)

This early lithograph depicts the trial of Rod McLean who was charged with high treason in the attempted of assassination of Queen Victoria (the last of eight such attempts). He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Artist unknown.

In the fall of 1997, Humboldt County Sheriff officers used Q–tips to apply pepper spray to the eyes of protesters opposed to logging in the Headwaters Forest in northern California. This illustration by K.Rudin depicts the jury as they watch a video of the forced application of the spray. Notice the reaction of the juror in the front row. (Copyright © 1997 K. Rudin).

Thirteen different appellate judges have upheld the highly disputed conviction of Mumia Abu–Jamal (Wesley Cook) for the murder of Officer Daniel Faulkner on December 9th, 1981. Here Susan Schary captures the emotions of one of the court appearances. (Copyright © 1995 Susan Schary)

Unknown artist, but might be Honore Daumier. This happy judge probably hanged the artist after he finished the engraving. In fact this judge probably hanged everyone.

Vicki Ellen Behringer sketches a cleaned up and disarmed Ted Kaczynski, a/k/a the Unabomber, at his trial in Sacramento. He eventually pleads guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without possibility of parole. (Copyright © 1997 Vicki Ellen Behringer.)

Courtney Love is at the counsel table at the opening statements of her trial stemming from a breaking and entering/assault charge in Beverly Hills, California,in April 2004. She turned heads when she flounced into the courtroom, in a barely–there floral chiffon skirt. She considered the courtroom a stage, and livened up the daily proceedings with “rocker-chic” antics. Love ultimately accepted a plea bargain in the case in February 2005. She went into rehab, was ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, pay a $1000.00 fine, and attend three Narcotics Anonymous meetings a week. (Copyright © 2005 Mona Shafer Edwards)

Amber Frey, the “other woman” in the Scott Peterson murder trial, wishes she had never met Scott Peterson and wishes she was anywhere else than in the witness stand. (Copyright ©2004 Vicki E. Behringer)

Anna Nicole Smith watches the videotaped testimony of her late billionaire husband Howard Marshall in the Federal Bankruptcy hearing. (Copyright © 1999 Steve Werblun)

Alleged gangbangers depicted in Federal Court in 1999 during the Mexcian Mafia trials that resulted in numerous convictions, and acquittals, following an extensive Federal investigation. (Copyright © 1999 Steve Werblun)

The murder trial of OJ Simpson. Rare sketch of the jury that was allowed when the artist distorted the juror’s faces. Note the “Ito” approved stamp at the bottom of the sketch. Judge Ito had to approve all the images and had a stamp made to signify which images could be released. (Copyright © 1995 Steve Werblun)

Tony Serra stares down a witness. Serra has represented Huey Newton, the Hell’s Angels, and many more. He is one of the most highly regarded criminal trial lawyers in the United States. (Copyright © 2007 Paulette Frankl)

Now in the penalty phase of the trial Scott Peterson’s junior high school friend Britton Scheibe testifies that Peterson was voted “friendliest” student by his classmates and was always polite and respectful of teachers and students. (Copyright © 2004 Norman Quebedeau).

The 2009 term of the Supreme Court begins with Justice Sotomayor making her first appearance on the bench. (Copyright © 2009 Dana Verkouteren)

A jury trial is about people. As I put together this website I decided to forgo the usual images of books, courthouses, scales, good looking people who aren’t lawyers standing around holding books, and the ubiquitous gavels. These are the static images of the law. Instead I have selected what I believe to be fascinating examples of courtroom art that chronicle the story of people who find themselves in the white knuckle world before judge and jury. I wish that I had been part of the actual trials, unfortunately I wasn’t!

The more notable courtroom artists have been very kind and have allowed the use of their art on this website. If you move your cursor over a particular image a pop-up box will appear that contains a description of the image and its artist.

To learn more about the art and the artists visit their websites: